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Natural or Not: The Story of a Mineral Oil Molecule
By: Johann W. Wiechers, PhD, JW Solutions
Posted: May 3, 2011
page 3 of 3
Of course, the molecule realized that naturalness was what the consumer believed it to be, but it knew for sure it was not created in a cyclotron or nuclear reactor; it was already in existence long before such installations were ever designed. It also knew it was not animal-derived. If it were, it would now have been natural gas instead of oil—but no one would have doubted whether it was natural or not. To make it worse, the molecule belonged to the most purified, rich fraction of natural oil, and it was accused of not being natural. How could it get the consumer to believe that it was indeed natural?
Then, the molecule knew. While the consumer was uttering words like “chemical,” “bad,” “synthetic” and even "petrochemical,” the molecule realized that if the consumer were to apply the luxurious o/w cream to his face, then the molecule would be natural. So the mineral oil molecule stopped uttering words of wisdom and let it be.
The consumer put his finger into the cream and the mineral oil molecule looked straight into his eyes with anticipation. The song "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" by Meatloaf came to mind as the molecule recalled the refrain: “Do you love me? Will you love me forever? Do you need me? Will you never leave me? Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life, will you take me away and will you make me your wife? ... What’s it gonna be boy, yes…. or… no?” Would the consumer apply the cream containing the molecule to his face? And would the molecule be able to penetrate the consumer's skin? After years as Dunky and millions of years in suppression, would he finally have the chance to continue his life as the consumer? After all, isn't that the cycle of nature?
The consumer sighed while the mineral molecule held its breath. In a few seconds, the molecule would finally know whether it would be officially endorsed as natural. The question of, "to be natural or not to be natural?" was finally going to be answered.
